Wave pipeline

Abstract

A system might include a first writing device and a second writing device. The first writing device might write first data to an array of memory cells in response to a first clock cycle of a clock signal. The write of the first data exceeds one clock cycle of the clock signal. The second writing device is in parallel with the first writing device. The second writing device might write second data to the array of memory cells in response to a second clock cycle of the clock signal. The second clock cycle follows the first clock cycle and the write of the second data exceeds one clock cycle of the clock signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a first writing device to write first data to an array of memory cells in response to a first clock cycle of a clock signal, the write of the first data exceeding one clock cycle of the clock signal; and 
 a second writing device in parallel with the first writing device, the second writing device to write second data to the array of memory cells in response to a second clock cycle of the clock signal, the second clock cycle following the first clock cycle and the write of the second data exceeding one clock cycle of the clock signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first writing device is to write the first data within two clock cycles of the clock signal, and
 wherein the second writing device is to write the second data within two clock cycles of the clock signal. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an address demultiplexer to receive an address signal and pass a first address to the first writing device aligned with the first clock cycle and pass a second address to the second writing device aligned with the second clock cycle. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an address counter to receive the clock signal and provide the address signal in response to the clock signal. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a clock demultiplexer to receive the clock signal and pass the first clock cycle to the first writing device and pass the second clock cycle to the second writing device. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a data demultiplexer to receive a data signal and pass the first data to the first writing device aligned with the first clock cycle and pass the second data to the second writing device aligned with the second clock cycle. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 data pads to receive the data signal. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a clock generator to receive a read enable signal and generate the clock signal based on the read enable signal. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second clock cycle immediately follows the first clock cycle. 
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 receiving a data signal and a clock signal at an input of a first stage; 
 dividing the data signal and the clock signal at an output of the first stage between inputs of a plurality of second stages by passing respective data and a respective clock cycle aligned with the data to each second stage; 
 processing the data through each second stage in response to the clock cycle aligned with the data; and 
 merging the processed data and the clock cycle aligned with the data from outputs of the plurality of second stages at an input to a third stage to provide processed merged data and a return clock signal aligned with the merged data. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 latching the processed merged data in a data latch in response to the return clock signal. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein processing the data through each second stage comprises processing the data through each second stage within a number of clock cycles of the clock signal equal to the number of second stages. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 delaying the clock cycle within each second stage a number of clock cycles of the clock signal equal to the number of second stages. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein dividing the data signal and the clock signal comprises dividing the data signal and the clock signal at a first data rate equal to a clock rate of the clock signal;
 wherein processing the data through each second stage comprises processing the data through each second stage at a second data rate equal the first data rate times the number of second stages of the plurality of second stages; and 
 wherein merging the processed data comprises merging the processed data at the first data rate. 
 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 receiving a data signal, an address signal, and a clock signal aligned with the data signal and the address signal; 
 dividing the data signal, the address signal, and the clock signal to provide first data and a first address aligned with a first clock cycle, and second data and a second address aligned with a second clock cycle; 
 writing the first data to an array of memory cells based on the first address via a first writing device in response to the first clock cycle; and 
 writing the second data to the array of memory cells based on the second address via a second writing device in response to the second clock cycle. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 generating the clock signal based on a read enable signal. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 generating the address signal in response to the clock signal. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 passing the first data to the first writing device via a first data path; 
 passing the first address to the first writing device via a first address path; 
 passing the first clock cycle to the first writing device via a first clock path; 
 passing the second data to the second writing device via a second data path; 
 passing the second address to the second writing device via a second address path; and 
 passing the second clock cycle to the second writing device via a second clock path. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein writing the first data exceeds one clock cycle of the clock signal, and
 wherein writing the second data exceeds one clock cycle of the clock signal. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second clock cycle immediately follows the first clock cycle.